Greeting to everyone in western Illinois. I'm hope'n this column finds everyone in "Good Spirits".

Halloween is now over, and my, the children all seemed to have a fun time.

Speak'n of children have'n a good time, Grandma Bruke made applesauce last week. One of the daughter-in-laws helped out along with her young son and daughter. They had fun every step of the way. Lots of laughter and enthusiasm with no one even hint'n they might be bored.

And of course, Grandpa was able to share in the benefits. Who can top warm fresh made applesauce over the top of homemade ice cream flavored with peaches? Enough was made to share with other family members as well as a few neighbors.

Yes, it would be a might easier to simply go to the store and buy your applesauce made by someone else and let the children watch T.V. or play video games. It would not be the same, not only in flavor, but also in family fun. I feel sorry for those who willingly give up these type of simple family pleasures in life.

After make'n applesauce, the young'ns found our old hollowed out walnut bowl filled with uncracked nuts of various kinds. With two different types of nut crackers, one a pincher and one a screw type, they cracked nuts for several hours. Something as simple as nut crack'n gave them pleasure and entertainment beyond expectation.

Again, those nuts could have been bought ready to eat from the store and the children would never experience the old fashioned fun of just sitt'n around, laugh'n, feel'n good and crack'n nuts, just as we've done for years as a family.

Grandpa Bruke suggested strongly they make a quick trip out to the timber when they get home, and find black walnuts and hickory nuts before the squirrels get them all buried and/or eaten up. It'll be fun to see what they come up with.

Oh say, Bill Jones told of a rumor he heard of in a town in southern Illinois whose citizens were predominately progressive or otherwise known as socialists. In this town their conservative mayor canceled Trick or Treat night this Halloween. He feared the candy those children gathered from the conservatives in town would be confiscated by the socialist progressives and divided in half. One half given back to the original trick or treaters and the other half given to the kids too lazy to go trick or treat'n for themselves.

I asked Bill for the name of the town but he wouldn't give it to me. In all probability it was a figment of his imagination, but I reckon it does give some pause for consideration.

It reminds me, however, of something I received recently from a good friend. It goes something like this:

The folks who are gett'n the free stuff don't like folks who are pay'n for the free stuff , because the folks who are pay'n for the free stuff can no longer afford to pay for both the free stuff and their own stuff.

And, the folks who are pay'n for the free stuff want the free stuff to stop.

And, the folks who are get'n the free stuff want even more free stuff on top of the free stuff they are already get'n so they can live as well or better then the folk pay'n for the free stuff without the work (Wall Street protesters in Des Moines, Iowa and other Cities.)

Never mind, that if'n those protesters worked half as hard at a regular job, rather than camp'n out and destroy'n some park, they could have much stuff of their own accord.

Now...the people who are force'n the people who pay for the free stuff have told the people who are receive'n the free stuff that the people who are pay'n for the free stuff are be'n mean, prejudiced, and racist.

So...the people who are get'n the free stuff have been convinced they need to hate the people who are pay'n for the free stuff by the people who are force'n some people to pay for their stuff. They "hate", mind you, the people who was give'n them the free stuff in the first place.

We have allowed the "free stuff give'n" to go on for so long that there are now more people get'n free stuff than pay'n for it. And the free stuff receivers want more and more, decry'n the ability of the free stuff giver be'n better off in the first place.

Now, my good friend claims this: All great democracies have committed financial suicide somewhere betwixt 200 and 250 years after being founded.

My friend claims the reason largely evolves around the fact the citizens figured out they could vote themselves benefits from the treasury by elect'n people who promised to give them money (free stuff) from the treasury in exchange for elect'n them.

The United States officially became a republic in 1776...231 years ago. During that time the number of people now gett'n free stuff now outnumbers the people paying for the free stuff.

Now, my friend sez. some of the folk hear'n this story will rush out and try and get their perceived fair share of free stuff.

Others will recall, "A nation of sheep breeds a government of wolves!" As such, they will concentrate on the election of 2012 which is quickly comin'.

Which number of folk will outnumber the other in that upcome'n election, the free stuff givers or the free stuff receivers?

My friend reminds me the free stuff givers may not vote in as large a percentage of ability as the free stuff receivers. He sez the politicians will certainly try to motivate the free stuff receivers to the polls between now and election day.

How will the "free stuff givers" be motivated and how will they vote?

It's any bodies guess how all this will turn out. But, my friend has certainly given me and the boys some powerful deep thoughts to reflect on!

Have a wonderful good week ahead and enjoy your family. Remember family can be more than blood relatives. I hope you make a friend, neighbor, or church member as part of your ongoing family circle.